Shenfield to Southend Line
Encyclopedia
The Shenfield to Southend (Victoria) Line is a railway line from Southend-on-Sea
to Shenfield in Essex
. Almost all trains continue through to London Liverpool Street along the Great Eastern Main Line
. The line is part of the Network Rail Strategic Route 7
, SRS 07.05 and is classified as a London and South East commuter line.
at different times using three different systems, all of which used overhead lines to carry the electric current. The first system used was 1500 V d.c., commissioned in 1956, following the commissioning of the main line from London to Shenfield in 1949. This was to replace an intensive steam service. In the 1960s the line was converted to 6.25 kV, 50 Hz a.c. as part of the decision by the British Transport Commission to adopt 25 kV, 50 Hz a.c.
electrification as the standard system rather than 1500 V d.c. electrification. The line did not immediately use 25 kV, due to problems with clearances under bridges. In 1979, the line was converted for a second time to 25 kV, 50 Hz a.c. following more research into the permissible clearances to structures.
Passenger services are currently operated by National Express East Anglia. They replaced the previous operator, First Great Eastern
, on 1 April 2004, when all the operators in East Anglia
were merged into one new franchise.
at Shenfield, and is double track throughout.
The line is electrified
at 25 kV AC
, has a loading gauge of W6, and a line speed of between 80-105 mph.
Services are formed using Class 315
or Class 321
electrical multiple units. A Class 360
Electrical Multiple Unit is used occasionally on the services.
A journey from Shenfield to Southend Victoria takes around 35 minutes. The service to Southend calls at all stations en route, and all stations towards Shenfield (except Sundays as Prittlewell station is closed).
Southend-on-Sea
Southend-on-Sea is a unitary authority area, town, and seaside resort in Essex, England. The district has Borough status, and comprises the towns of Chalkwell, Eastwood, Leigh-on-Sea, North Shoebury, Prittlewell, Shoeburyness, Southchurch, Thorpe Bay, and Westcliff-on-Sea. The district is situated...
to Shenfield in Essex
Essex
Essex is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the East region of England, and one of the home counties. It is located to the northeast of Greater London. It borders with Cambridgeshire and Suffolk to the north, Hertfordshire to the west, Kent to the South and London to the south west...
. Almost all trains continue through to London Liverpool Street along the Great Eastern Main Line
Great Eastern Main Line
The Great Eastern Main Line is a 212 Kilometre major railway line of the British railway system, which connects Liverpool Street in the City of London with destinations in east London and the East of England, including Chelmsford, Colchester, Ipswich, Norwich and several coastal resorts such as...
. The line is part of the Network Rail Strategic Route 7
Network Rail Route 7 (Great Eastern)
Strategic Route 7 - Great Eastern is the designation given by Network Rail to a grouping of railway lines in the East of England that encompasses the Great Eastern Main Line and its various branch lines...
, SRS 07.05 and is classified as a London and South East commuter line.
History
The line has been electrifiedRailway electrification in Great Britain
Railway electrification in Great Britain started towards of the 19th century. A great range of voltages have been used in the intervening period using both overhead lines and third rails, however the most common standard for mainline services is now 25 kV AC using overhead lines and the...
at different times using three different systems, all of which used overhead lines to carry the electric current. The first system used was 1500 V d.c., commissioned in 1956, following the commissioning of the main line from London to Shenfield in 1949. This was to replace an intensive steam service. In the 1960s the line was converted to 6.25 kV, 50 Hz a.c. as part of the decision by the British Transport Commission to adopt 25 kV, 50 Hz a.c.
25 kV AC
The 25 kV Alternating current railway electrification system is commonly used in railways worldwide, especially for high-speed rail.-Overview:This electrification system is ideal for railways that cover long distances and/or carry heavy traffic...
electrification as the standard system rather than 1500 V d.c. electrification. The line did not immediately use 25 kV, due to problems with clearances under bridges. In 1979, the line was converted for a second time to 25 kV, 50 Hz a.c. following more research into the permissible clearances to structures.
Passenger services are currently operated by National Express East Anglia. They replaced the previous operator, First Great Eastern
First Great Eastern
First Great Eastern was an award-winning train operating company that operated suburban, local and medium distance train services from London Liverpool Street via Romford to Essex and Ipswich in the United Kingdom on the Great Eastern Main Line railway.First Group gained the Great Eastern...
, on 1 April 2004, when all the operators in East Anglia
East Anglia
East Anglia is a traditional name for a region of eastern England, named after an ancient Anglo-Saxon kingdom, the Kingdom of the East Angles. The Angles took their name from their homeland Angeln, in northern Germany. East Anglia initially consisted of Norfolk and Suffolk, but upon the marriage of...
were merged into one new franchise.
Infrastructure
The line diverges from the Great Eastern Main LineGreat Eastern Main Line
The Great Eastern Main Line is a 212 Kilometre major railway line of the British railway system, which connects Liverpool Street in the City of London with destinations in east London and the East of England, including Chelmsford, Colchester, Ipswich, Norwich and several coastal resorts such as...
at Shenfield, and is double track throughout.
The line is electrified
Railway electrification in Great Britain
Railway electrification in Great Britain started towards of the 19th century. A great range of voltages have been used in the intervening period using both overhead lines and third rails, however the most common standard for mainline services is now 25 kV AC using overhead lines and the...
at 25 kV AC
25 kV AC
The 25 kV Alternating current railway electrification system is commonly used in railways worldwide, especially for high-speed rail.-Overview:This electrification system is ideal for railways that cover long distances and/or carry heavy traffic...
, has a loading gauge of W6, and a line speed of between 80-105 mph.
Services are formed using Class 315
British Rail Class 315
British Rail Class 315 alternating current electric multiple units were built by BREL at York works from 1980 to 1981. They were the fifth and final variety of British Rail's then-standard 1972 design for suburban EMUs, which eventually encompassed 755 vehicles and five Classes...
or Class 321
British Rail Class 321
The British Rail Class 321 alternating current electric multiple units were built by BREL York in three batches from 1988-91. The design was successful and led to the development of the similar Class 320 and Class 322 units for use by Strathclyde PTE and Stansted Express respectively...
electrical multiple units. A Class 360
British Rail Class 360
The British Rail Class 360 electric multiple units were built by Siemens in two sub-types from 2002-2003 and 2004-2005. These units are part of the Siemens Desiro family.The Siemens "Desiro UK" family also includes units of Classes 185, 350, 380, 444 and 450....
Electrical Multiple Unit is used occasionally on the services.
A journey from Shenfield to Southend Victoria takes around 35 minutes. The service to Southend calls at all stations en route, and all stations towards Shenfield (except Sundays as Prittlewell station is closed).